Climate Diplomacy Podcast

Europe is experiencing another summer of extreme heat, drought and wildfires. Across the world, communities are also facing record temperatures, intense rainfall, floods, landslides and tropical cyclones. These climate impacts are unfolding alongside intensifying conflict, geopolitical uncertainty and shrinking development and climate finance, creating overlapping pressures for communities, institutions and emergency responders. In this episode, hosts Alexandra Steinkraus and Josephine Collier explore how climate change, conflict and financial pressures are converging, and ask how peacebuilding and climate action can respond together rather than separately. Drawing on lessons from the Weathering Risk Peace Pillar, they discuss what integrated climate, environment, peace and security programming looks like in practice. The conversation explores natural resource peace agreements in Nigeria, water sharing initiatives in Iraq, climate sensitive agriculture and the ways in which one investment can strengthen peace, resource management, livelihoods and social cohesion at the same time. Alexandra and Josephine also reflect on what makes these approaches effective, durable and relevant across very different contexts. This episode was recorded before the devastating flash floods and landslides in Nepal on 26 August 2026. Further resources Weathering Risk Peace Pillar: (initiative info), (evaluation syntheses), (5 lessons policy brief) and (impact stories) More about the OSCE project Strengthening Responses to Security Risks from Climate Change in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia (overview, stories, news and publications) More information on the current wildfire situation in Europe © adelphi global, all rights reservedadelphi global (https://adelphi-global.de/en) is an economically and politically independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting sustainability, enhancing environmental protection, improving education, expanding development cooperation, and strengthening international collaborations. Our commitment is reflected in targeted projects, in-depth analyses, and informative educational events, through which we strive for a just and sustainable world.Editing by Paulus Müller-Hahl (Lichtbilder)

As COP29 in Azerbaijan has come to a close, in this episode, our colleague Yosr Khèdr (Analyst, adelphi) joins the podcast to discuss the climate finance negotiations, the new Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance, the shortcomings of the final text and what this means for COP30 in Belém. We also dive into what the negotiations mean for fragile and conflict affected countries, the significance of the second Peace Day and other positive outcomes from this year’s COP. Further links: Climate finance for peace: Event summary | Upscaling peace-positive climate action and climate-informed peacebuilding | Operationalising the Climate, Relief, Recovery and Peace Declaration © adelphi global, all rights reserved adelphi global (https://adelphi-global.de/en) is an economically and politically independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainability, enhancing environmental protection, improving education, expanding development cooperation, and strengthening international collaborations. Our commitment is reflected in targeted projects, in-depth analyses, and informative educational events, through which we strive for a just and sustainable world. Editing by Paulus Müller-Hahl (Lichtbilder).

Biodiversity COP is around the corner. For the first time, the forum will look into how peace and security issues intersect with nature, and we are here for it. To understand the CBD COP process, how peace and security landed in the global biodiversity agenda, and to what to expect from the upcoming gathering of the community in Cali, we spoke with Florian Titze, Senior Policy Advisor for International Biodiversity Policy at WWF. Tune in to prepare for following the discussions around global biodiversity!Related links: BCSC-Cali: Berlin Climate and Security Conference 2024 - Cali Edition Report The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review Catalogue of Nature-based Solutions for Peace and Security © adelphi global, all rights reserved adelphi global (https://adelphi-global.de/en) is an economically and politically independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainability, enhancing environmental protection, improving education, expanding development cooperation, and strengthening international collaborations. Our commitment is reflected in targeted projects, in-depth analyses, and informative educational events, through which we strive for a just and sustainable world. Editing by Paulus Müller-Hahl (Lichtbilder).

As a heat dome drives record high temperatures for June across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), we speak with Ali Nasrallah, a green energy policy and climate security expert to discuss how climate change, rising temperatures and water scarcity are disrupting daily life and infrastructure, exacerbating tensions and contributing to new conflicts. We also speak about the energy transition and progress made -from regional leadership with COP27 and COP28- to national legislation and incentives, as well as the importance of prioritising cross-border programming, partnerships and how access to data and visualisation can increase transparency and build trust with different stakeholders. Discover the Climate-Security and Peacebuilding Thematic Review© adelphi global, all rights reserved adelphi global (https://adelphi-global.de/en) is an economically and politically independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainability, enhancing environmental protection, improving education, expanding development cooperation, and strengthening international collaborations. Our commitment is reflected in targeted projects, in-depth analyses, and informative educational events, through which we strive for a just and sustainable world. Editing by Paulus Müller-Hahl (Lichtbilder).

Livelihoods are how the necessities of life are secured. They are a determining factor in many contexts around the world. Many livelihoods are dependent on a healthy environment and a stable climate, making them particularly sensitive to climate and environmental crises. At the same time, they are deeply entangled with social and economic dynamics. As a consequence, livelihoods form a key pathway in the climate-security nexus. In this host-to-host deep dive, we get to talk a bit about our how livelihood security features in our own work, a few experiences and findings, as well as key entry points and recommendations that have emerged from our projects and initiatives at adelphi.Further readings: Climate, Peace and Security Assessment: Mali Next steps towards an inclusive Climate, Peace and Security Agenda Weathering Risk methodology Climate Security Study: Kenya Pacific Climate Security Assessment Guide © adelphi research, all rights reserved adelphi research (https://adelphi-research.de/en) is a non-profit independent think tank for environmental and development policy research and analysis. Our mission is to enable transformative change and to create a sustainable future for generations to come.Editing by Paulus Müller-Hahl (Lichtbilder).

Haiti is facing a deep security, political and humanitarian crisis and is simultaneously one of the most vulnerable countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to climate change. Rising temperatures and declining rainfall have intensified drought and climate-related storms are growing more intense, causing devastating flooding. By adversely impacting livelihoods, food security, water scarcity and health conditions, climate change is exacerbating the current multifaceted and complex crisis grappling the country.In this episode, we bring together the researchers behind the Roots for Peace report to discuss experiences conducting the study, setting up the Haiti Climate Security Working Group and share with the broader research community, the lessons learnt while doing so. We also take a look at the main pathways of climate and insecurity in Haiti identified in the study, recommendations and next steps. Join us for this insightful conversation with Paule Juneau (UNEP Haiti), Beatrice Mosello (adelphi) and Jessica Hsu (Haiti-based researcher & anthropologist).Discover the "Roots for Peace" report: adelph.it/WRHaiti© adelphi research, all rights reserved adelphi research (https://adelphi-research.de/en) is a non-profit independent think tank for environmental and development policy research and analysis. Our mission is to enable transformative change and to create a sustainable future for generations to come.Editing by Paulus Müller-Hahl (Lichtbilder).

So much can be said about how war and conflict disrupt the environment. The effects on human lives are excruciating and long-lived, making environmental protection a priority for human security - even in armed conflicts. On this International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War, we’ve partnered with PAX to put together an episode looking at how rules and recommendations can help protect the environment in armed conflict under international law and create precedents for prevention. Join our guests Wim Zwijnenburg (PAX) and Helen Obregón Gieseken (ICRC) for this exciting conversation.© adelphi research, all rights reserved adelphi research (https://adelphi-research.de/en) is a non-profit independent think tank for environmental and development policy research and analysis. Our mission is to enable transformative change and to create a sustainable future for generations to come.Editing by Paulus Müller-Hahl (Lichtbilder).